The Grey Ghost

The California Corbina has been on my radar since I first tried sight casting to them last summer.  Since I primarily spend most of my time and finacial resources on trout, other options are put on the back burner.  Since this year has been especially dry, most if not all of California's trout water have been critically low.  Hence, the lack of posts…

At least there are options… Coastlines, bays, and lakes are convenient and productive under ideal conditions.  However, for whatever reason, fresh water bass fishing has been SLOW.  Bays are hit and miss.  The surf has always been the last option.  Honestly, the only species of interest to me in the surf is the Corbina.  Everything about them is pretty interesting and a challenge to catch on a fly.  Unfortunately, these fish make themselves available to sight casting during the peak of summer beach activity.  Nonetheless, when they commit to take a fly, the ride is well worth the wait.

They are shape shifters, moving with the undulating current.  Shadows darting in and out of the rolling waves like ninjas disappearing in a plume of smoke.  These fish demand finesse presentations and absolute focus.  The take is not always detectable either, it is important to be able to see the fly and where the fish intercepts it.  The take can be as subtle as a winter time trout taking a size 22 midge and selective as any picky fish can be.  A true challenge and fight worthy of any fly angler.

Rod: Sage TCX 9' 7wt
Line: Rio Outbound short 330gr
Leader: 10lb - 8lb fluorocarbon leader 9'
Fly: Size 6 orange over blue clouser. Size 6 merkin variation (both red dumbbell eyes)

Poor Man's Stripping Basket

My experience fly fishing the surf has always been somewhat disappointing.  I probably wasn't fishing with the right fly, and I seemed to always miss a high tide.  Most importantly, I never invested in a stripping basket.  With less than five bucks and a few tools, I created a poor man's stripping basket.

The items and steps are simple.  There are probably other similar patterns out there, and there are most definitely better baskets than mine.  I haven't even taken this out on the surf yet, however it fits me comfortably and holds line stripped off my reel.

Materials I used:

•  14Lx10Wx7D Plastic Container (I got this one at Lowe's for less than $4)
• Compression Strap (whatever length your waist may be)
• Dry Wall Anchors (I used 5- 2" anchors staggered)
• Cordless Drill (1" & 1/2" spade drill bit)
•  1/2" spade drill bit for draining holes on the bottom of the basket and along the side for wind penetration.
• 1" spade bit for the compression strap holes.
• 3/16" bit for dry wall anchors.
• Gorilla Tape to cover the compression strap holes on both sides (I cut a slit into the tape and pulled the strap through). I did this so the strap doesn't slip and slide through the holes.  
• Slap stickers on it for a little flare.  

The lid can still be attached to the top and works good for holding fly boxes and other odds and ends until you get to the water.

I'm looking forward to searching for Corbina and catching them on a fly.  Tuck sent me a great link that got me fired up for Corbina on the fly!

http://www.danblanton.com/blog/corbina-on-the-fly-by-richard-jacobsen/

Ghost Shrimp

I was experimenting with some saltwater shrimp patterns today and I came up with this creature.  The fly is made up of random material floating around my tying table and I was fairly pleased with the result. Although, it seems like I tied the fly upside down now that I'm looking at the photo of my fly.  It will probably evolve as I tinker with it more.

Hook:  Gamakatsu SL11-3H (I tied this on a size 6)
Head:  Dazl-Eyes 5/32" Black
Mouthparts:
  Bottom; White Craft Fur (fuzzy end)
  Middle: Strands of ghost flash
  Top: White Z-lon
Body:   Pearl Blue Angel Hair (dubbed and tapered toward tail); Pink or orange glo-bug yard pulled over length of shank; Ribbed edge of sandwich bag cut to size and pulled over body like a wing casing.  Silver wire ribbed to re-enforce the body.
Tail:  Tag end of the sandwich bag (tapered at the eye of the hook so it doesn't fold the tail when tied off).  I just simply rounded the tail.